Why the Aberdeen win was a major turning point in Neil Lennon's bid to land the Celtic manager's job

IT could be down to having had a big name manager in charge for the best part of three years, it might be due to the fact that some of the football they have produced in the past few months has not always been especially attractive to watch or it may simply be there is a desire for somebody new.

Whatever the reasons, it is undeniable the number of Celtic fans who are opposed to Neil Lennon being made manager on a permanent basis at the end of the season is, despite their admiration and affection for him, sizeable.

A high-profile coach who has managed in the top flight down south, as Brendan Rodgers had with both Swansea and Liverpool before he was brought in, or overseas would be preferable for a section of the Parkhead support.

The prospect of Rafa Benitez, Slaven Bilic, Steve Clarke, Roberto Martinez, Davie Moyes, Graham Potter or Andre Villas-Boas, who have all been linked with the job in recent weeks as speculation has abounded, rocking up in East End of Glasgow this summer is, regardless of how suited they are for the role of likely to accept the challenge, far more appealing to many.

However, was Saturday, when Celtic finally clinched their eighth consecutive Scottish title with a thoroughly professional 3-0 win over Aberdeen in a potentially difficult fixture up at Pittodrie, a significant turning point for Lennon in his bid to land the position he covets?

The ovation which the Northern Irishman was given by the followers of the away side as they celebrated securing their eighth straight domestic trophy long after the final whistle had blown was a genuine and warm one. The backing he received suggested that, should he get handed the gig long-term, most of them would wholeheartedly approve.

Dermot Desmond, the major Celtic shareholder, and Peter Lawwell, the chief executive, will ultimately decide who succeeds Rodgers permanently in the summer. However, the supporters, more specifically the season ticket holders, will have a big say too. If those who pay their hard-earned cash to get through the turnstiles are in favour of an appointment it increases its likelihood.

The criticism that has been levelled at Lennon, who was made interim manager back in February, has been harsh given the circumstances which has had to work in. He has been unwilling to tinker with a winning formula and stamp his own personality on the team. That has been a frustrating situation. He has also had a lengthy injury list to contend with.

But the statistics speak for themselves. The win at the weekend stretched his unbeaten record since returning to Celtic to 11 games. During that time, his charges have netted 16 goals and conceded just two. One of those was a penalty to Hearts away in his first game back while the other was the controversial strike Motherwell netted against them at home.

Yes, points have been dropped in goalless draws to Aberdeen, Livingston and Hibernian. But the lead the double treble winners held has been extended and another league duly secured. What more could he conceivably have done?

The win over Aberdeen that got them over the line was impressive. Their hosts, despite missing Andrew Considine, Gary Mackay-Steven, Niall McGinn, Connor McLennan and Graeme Shinnie, had the better of the first-half and could easily have gone 2-0 ahead had James Wilson taken his chances up front.

The visitors, who passed up an opportunity themselves when Odsonne Edouard was sent through on goal by Kristoffer Ajer, withstood the pressure and responded like champions. They took the lead through Mikael Lustig five minutes before half-time, added to their tally in the second-half when Jozo Simunovic bagged his second goal in seven days and rounded off the win when Edouard struck late on following good work by Tom Rogic.

Players at a football club are never likely to say anything detrimental about the individual who selects the team regardless of what they actually think of him. Still, the positivity towards Lennon among the members of his squad has been startling. There will, then, be no consternation if he stays. “He came into the best team in the country, he came into the best group of players in the country and he did a great job in terms of keeping things going how they were,” said goalkeeper Scott Bain.

Defeat to Rangers in the final Old Firm game of the season at Ibrox on Sunday will damage his prospects even though the Premiership is won as will failing to beat Hearts in the William Hill Scottish Cup final at Hampden later this month and complete an unprecedented triple treble. There is, as Lennon well knows, no let up when you are in the Parkhead hot seat. Wins, though, in both of those games will make it very difficult for Celtic not to retain his services.

Bain is looking forward to the trip to Govan and is confident there will be no title hangover. “If anything, it will allow us to play with a little bit more freedom,” he said. “We will go there with a swagger. We have proved we are the best team in the country and no one can touch us. We go again. But first of all we celebrate, we enjoy the moment.”

Aberdeen slipped below Kilmarnock in the top flight table at the weekend, but they can reclaim third spot and the automatic European place that goes with it if they perform as well as they did against Celtic in their final matches against Hearts at home and Hibernian away and are more clinical in the final third.

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here